Why Does Your Air Conditioner Freeze in Summer?

Posted July 20, 2017

The summer can get so hot in La Puente, so how in the world is your air conditioner freezing over? It seems to make no sense. You may not even realize it’s taking place. How will you notice if your air conditioner is frozen? It may seem like a silly question, but you usually won’t actually see the ice except in extreme cases. Here are symptoms to look for that indicate you could be dealing with a frozen AC system that could need air conditioning service:

Warm air is coming out of your registers while the air conditioner is running.

Water is leaking from or gathering under your air conditioner.

When we say your home’s air conditioner is frozen, what’s actually frozen is the evaporator coil, which moves heat out of your home to maintain the cooler temperatures. There are two main explanations that an evaporator coil may freeze; one is a refrigerant leak and the other reason is a blockage of airflow.

If your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak, you will want to speak with your Temp Air System Inc technician during your air conditioning service appointment to understand if you will benefit more from repairing or replacing your air conditioner. We can help you evaluate the pros and cons using information such as the age of your air conditioner and its service history, along with other things.

If your air conditioner has frozen due to an airflow blockage, it’s because there is not enough air passing over the evaporator coil to dry the condensation that acquires on it—then it freezes. Air flow blockages are regularly caused by dirty air filters or even dirty cooling fins. These problems can be remedied (and avoided!) by a routine air conditioner service appointment. At these service sessions, your technician will clean your system, replace your air filters and confirm everything is working as it should with no potential challenges on the horizon. It’s also a great idea to mark your calendar or set a reminder on your phone to check your air filters often and change them when they are dirty. Always be sure that furniture, curtains and other household items aren’t blocking your registers, as even this could cause a significant airflow problem and the following freezing problems.

If your air conditioner freezes, turn it off using your thermostat and call the pros at Temp Air System Inc to schedule an air conditioning service appointment. We’ll help you identify the issue and have your home back to cool and comfortable quickly. Call us at 626-587-4559 to book an appointment with us.

Temp Air System Inc carries long-lasting, reliable HVAC systems, and provides superior service and quality for customers in the La Puente region. We pride ourselves on being knowledgeable on all HVAC products, so you can be confident in our results. Our qualified professionals can give you the help you need, whether it be installing a brand-new HVAC system, or giving your existing system the service and maintenance it needs. Your home comfort is our main priority! We’re here to help with all of your HVAC issues or questions, so contact us at 626-587-4559 or schedule an appointment with us online.